Quick answer: Not a swing fault — it's a strategy call: reaching for the driver off the tee out of habit, not out of odds.
What it does to the ball
Big misses (deep rough, OB, a fairway bunker) cost more strokes on average than the distance gained from the driver.
Root causes (by frequency)
For most amateurs the driver is the widest-dispersion club in the bag
Club choice is driven by desired distance instead of margin for error
How to fix it
On the tee, decide WHERE you want the ball to end up first, then pick the club that gets there with the most margin
Drills that fix it
9 holes without a driver · 90 min · 9 reps
Play for position, not distance — cut down the wild drive Play 9 holes using at most a long iron or hybrid off the tee — never the driver. Before every shot, decide WHERE you want the ball to end up first, then pick the club — not the other way around. Track how many shots you save by staying out of the rough and fairway bunkers.
Frequently asked questions
What is "Course management: the forced drive" in the golf swing?
Not a swing fault — it's a strategy call: reaching for the driver off the tee out of habit, not out of odds.
What does course management: the forced drive do to the ball?
Big misses (deep rough, OB, a fairway bunker) cost more strokes on average than the distance gained from the driver.
How do you fix course management: the forced drive?
On the tee, decide WHERE you want the ball to end up first, then pick the club that gets there with the most margin